I grew up within a loving and stable family (a Mom and Dad that stayed together, and an older brother and older sister) and also inherited the religion sometimes referred to as Armstrongism, which had teachings that certainly made me stand out from other kids at school. (To make a quite long, detailed and debated story into a short, debatable, summary, the founder, HerbertW.Armstrong, died in 1986, and left leadership to Joseph W. Tkach, Sr., who was later approached by his son, Joseph W. Tkach, Jr., and two others who began to critically study the basis of past church teaching; they eventually decided that radical changes should be made.) My reaction to ‘the changes’ was casual. I had not fully understood or owned the former beliefs/teachings for myself, and so I rather easily laid them aside. Further, I didn’t replace them with anything.

Again, summarising, my few years in Sedalia were… well… ‘not religious’, and this lifestyle continued for a few months once I moved to Springfield. I quickly became reunited with a friend (Ben Kilgore) who had been raised in the same church as me, but was now working at and attending a Baptist church. To make another long story short, he didn’t force his beliefs on me, but when I eventually asked questions about belief in Jesus, he answered them honestly and thoughtfully. I soon committed my life to Jesus and was baptised. Thus began my Jesus-journey.

My journey was, at first, largely a social thing, but a challenging philosophy class drove me to take my faith more seriously and seek to know why I believed what I did. In addition to this, I quickly became active in the area of worship music. These two trends continued for several years, and eventually I took up a volunteer position of ‘Worship Pastor’ at a new church plant, the Church at Finley Crossings, as well as helping withvariouscollegeministries, and participating in a few international missionarytrips.

My work life had seen me attend one semester of college to ‘explore options’, and a unexpected promotion to my companies’ general office had ended that exploration. I enjoyed my job and found myself making good progress toward the ‘American Dream’ of a house, good job and a good family – I just lacked my own family.

Later, in what would prove to be a key conversation, one of my current roommates (and best friends), Brandon Pickering, asked me some deep questions about what I wanted to do with my life. I had always kind of ‘let life come to me’, but Brandon was reminding me that I actually didn’t have to do this. More than that, he encouraged me that I had many abilities that would serve me well in taking several different paths in life. Within a few weeks, I had enrolled for classes in the Religious Studies program at the local university – perhaps still unsure about what I wanted to do.

After a year in this program, I found myself (to summarise yet another long story) in Auckland, New Zealand on a ministry-trip with Dr. Bernard Holmes, helping out at an Open Brethrenchurch. In a most unexpected turn of events, toward the end of our month-long stay, I found myself being offered a position there as Youth Pastor. After much discussion with others, prayer, consideration (and an unexplainable seating arrangement and conversation on the plane ride home!), I took the job.

Not long after starting, my laptop was stolen during a mid-week bible study. Luke Weston, an announcer at Life FM, was able to find a computer company who was willing to give –yes give– me a replacement laptop! In a later turn of events, a friend of mine, Cameron Stuart, and I headed to a dessert party at a flat where another Life FM announcer named Di (Diane) lived. When we met, she said, “Oh, so you’re the laptop guy…” And… of course… to make yet another long story much shorter… she is now my wife!

Well, after 2 years as Youth Pastor at Ngaire Ave, I made the move to my current church, Northcote Baptist, as Associate Pastor for Youth, and I’m enjoying it very much. Di and I are enjoying learning how to be married and we look forward to whatever the future holds for us!

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10 Responses

Dale,
It was great to hear from you. Yes, I found your blog through some convoluted process. I think I searched on blogger for those who put Hebrews as one of their favorite books. You came up eventually.

I am encouraged to hear that another Missourian is in New Zealand! We are very much looking forward to moving to Dunedin. I hope to follow along with your blog and stay in touch.

I found your blog after doing an internet search for Dr. Bernard Holmes. I’ve heard he is ill and was looking for information; as a former student of his who was greatly impacted by such a godly man at a critical time in my life, it is great to hear of others Dr. Holmes impacted as well. Great blog – I’ll add you to my prayers and wish you the best for your ministry down under.

hey dale- it was great seeing you and Di. I love reading all your blogs and listening to your sermons and music. it is pretty weird around CFC these days without the Stones. But if i learned anything from you going to NZ was that “this too shall pass” and the kingdom keeps on trucking. we miss you tons! tell di we said hi. don’t be a stranger. chris.

Boy Dale, that Worldwide Church of God, has a rather colourful history to say the least, eh. Lot’s of skeletons in their closet, and enough schisms to part a tectonic plate. Amongst its original teachings/rules were a ban on observing Christmas and Easter, birthdays, blood transfusions and eating pork. Oh yeah, members were expected to tithe 30% of their income and it’s founder claimed British & American people were descended from The Lost Tribe of Israel – where he came-up from this historic porky is anyone’s business. Saturday was designated as the Sabbath (Herbert’s wife came-up with that one) . They spawned a Christian terrorist cell, that tried to blow-up the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jelusalem. That was in 1967 by the way, three years later the Church suffers a serious melt-down when it comes into the public domain that Garner Ted Armstrong had been ‘touching-up’ one of young members and gambled away thousands in Church funds. Armstrong snr tells Time Magazine his son is “in bonds with Satan”. Armstrong Jnr had left his wife and was at that time shacked-up with an Airline hostess he’d meet on a flight somewhere. Perhaps, to deflect the attention away from these internal ructions and sins of the flesh, the Church announced the world would end with the 2nd coming in 1975. In 1979 (so much for that prophecy) the Church almost went bankrupt when disgruntled ex members sued the organisation claiming financial mis-management (read embezzlement)Around this time they begin teaching followers humanity was being guided by a “Great Unseen Hand from Someplace.” (where is Douglas Adams when you need him?) Tkach snr told the world ‘the holy spirit was a person’ in 1991. Mate, there’s enough material on these internal ructions to write a book. In fact two books have been written, both of which the WWC of God tried to get banned.

Paul,
You’re excellent at finding dirt on people/organisations and then giving short (and at times distorted) summaries of them. You should check out how Tkach Jr and two friends met up and sparked some of the major changes which ‘went public’ in the 90’s. Interesting stuff.

I just stumbled onto your blog via the ‘Facebook Networked Blogs’ under “Gospel”. I went ahead and joined your FB network based on your content and insightful posts. Keep it up…I’ll be back for another read. 😉